AF Cichlid Chemistry for Rift Lake set ups

[TaffyFish]

1. Anybody else out there using this product as a water additive for Rift Lake tanks? Alternatively are you using Tanganyika buffers or Trace elements?

I've read before, and am sure that there's some truth in it, that it's just a very expensive way to add Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate) and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate or bicarbonate of soda).

2. Soulfish's oft-quoted recipe for adding hardness/trace elements is one tablespoon each of Instant Ocean, baking soda and Epsom salt per 5 gallons. Anybody know whether Tropic Marin is a good alternative to Instant Ocean?

 

[catfishmike]

i'm not too sure about that but you could tell with a comparison of lables.most sea salts give a listing of what trace minerals they add and how much

 

[Somonas]

I use soulfish'es recipe but not instant ocean, I just dump in a handfull of water softener salt. which by the time it's ground up is about 2 tablespoons anyway.

I am awaiting soulfish's reply in another thread regarding Instant Ocean.